New French parliament rejuvenated, feminized, ‘society-conscious’

Germany

Die Welt and FAZ devoted front page real estate to an Italian investigation into German NGO Jugend Rettet, which rescues migrants in the Mediterranean. Italy accuses them of "deliberately favoring illegal immigration." The NGO allegedly took migrants onboard directly from people smugglers’ boats. FAZ also wrote about the Dutch tainted egg scandal. Several German supermarket chains temporary stopped selling eggs from the Netherlands over fears they were dangerous for consumers. The Dutch health authority NVWA claimed the eggs on sale now aren't tainted by chemicals.

France

Le Monde's front page featured a story about young, newly elected MPs and their first experiences in an old institution. The paper writes that parliament has been rejuvenated, feminized, and is more "society-conscious” after the June parliamentary election, won by President Emmanuel Macron’s party En Marche. The hemicycle is crowded — rare in the middle of summer, Le Monde writes.

UK

The Times led with a story about allegations the head of a government fire-safety panel set up after the Grenfell Tower fire has a conflict of interest because he helped to certify building materials similar to those used on the west London tower block.

The paper also reported on an audit, which found the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) could save billions by “putting its house in order." According to a report by Tim Briggs, the national director of clinical quality and efficiency, the NHS wastes too much money on poor care. He told the Times: “I do not think at the moment we deserve more money until we put our house in order and we actually make the changes that will improve the quality of care."

The Guardian featured a report on the arrest of a British security researcher by the FBI over allegations he was involved in spreading malicious software targeting bank accounts. His mother said it was “hugely unlikely” her son was guilty because he has spent “enormous amounts of time” combatting such attacks.

Belgium

Belgian daily Le Soir featured a story about a plague of mold infiltrating the Brussels court building. The fungi interloper was discovered in January and affects premises where legal documents are archived. The problem has not been addressed after a dispute between various government departments. The chairman of the French-speaking court of instance in Brussels said investigators took samples in June and are now awaiting testing to determine whether the spores are harmful to employees.

De Morgen reported on a so-called action plan for children of jihadi fighters. Belgium's list of citizens who have traveled overseas to become jihadi militants includes four minors currently in Syria. A further 35 children were either taken to Syria from Belgium by their parents or were born in the war zone. NGO Child Focus said the children have been indoctrinated or sometimes deployed as soldiers. "We must be there for these children when they return to Belgium for their and our safety," the NGO told the paper.